South by Southwest: The new Toronto?

If any of you live near or happen to be dropping by Austin, TX the next week, get yourself over to South by Southwest 2009. It’s music. It’s movies. It’s Austin, one of the coolest cities around. Here’s a nice article in the Hollywood Reporter about SXSW’s emergence as a mover-and-shaker in the movie festival scene:

When producer Thomas Woodrow began debating the ideal launchpad for his movie “True Adolescents,” he ran through the usual festival suspects: Sundance, Cannes, Toronto and Telluride.

But Woodrow decided to premiere his $1 million comedy featuring Oscar nominee Melissa Leo at South by Southwest, a fest that until recently was known as an afterthought to the powerhouse music event that runs alongside it.

Sure, “Adolescents” is music-oriented, aimed at the same young, hip audience that flocks to Austin each March, and its star, Mark Duplass, is well-known locally.

But more importantly, “the fact a golden handful of distributors who are potential partners are certainly going to be there made it the obvious choice,” Woodrow says.

His decision to go with South by Southwest (SXSW or “South By,” as it is known) reflects the increasing relevance of the fest heading into its 16th go-round, which begins today and runs through March 21.

Okay, here’s a question: If you could go to one movie festival, which would it be?

Tribeca?

Telluride?

SXSW?

Toronto?

Cannes?

I think I know most everyone’s answer. Mine might surprise folks.

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